Esterline Reports Fiscal 2016 Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Financial Results


BELLEVUE, WA--(Marketwired - Nov 10, 2016) - Esterline Corporation (NYSE: ESL)

  • Sales of $543.8 million in the fiscal fourth quarter
  • Earnings from continuing operations of $52.0 million in the fiscal fourth quarter; adjusted earnings from continuing operations of $58.2 million
  • GAAP earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $1.75 in the fiscal fourth quarter; adjusted earnings per share of $1.96
  • Fiscal 2016 full-year GAAP earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $3.93, adjusted earnings per diluted share of $4.86
  • Company issues fiscal 2017 guidance

Esterline Corporation (NYSE: ESL) (www.esterline.com), a leading specialty manufacturer serving the global aerospace and defense markets, today reported results for the 2016 fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended September 30, 2016. The company generated consolidated revenue of $543.8 million in the fiscal fourth quarter, which was flat compared with the prior-year recast period. The Avionics & Controls segment had strong commercial aerospace and defense sales in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016, which were offset by a sales decrease in Advanced Materials primarily related to a previously reported temporary plant shutdown. The results for our fiscal 2015 fourth quarter and fiscal year have been recast to the three months and twelve months ended October 2, 2015, respectively, in order to provide meaningful comparisons to prior-year periods.

Curtis Reusser, Esterline's Chief Executive Officer, said, "We finished fiscal 2016 on a high note driven by strong volume and improved margins. We are pleased with the operational milestones reached during the year, including completion of the two remaining accelerated integration projects and substantial progress on our E3 initiatives. I am excited to enter a new fiscal year with a clear focus on execution, supported by solid order rates and backlog."

Earnings from continuing operations in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 increased 29.2% to $52.0 million, or $1.75 per diluted share, compared with $40.3 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, in the recast prior-year period results, primarily due to stronger operating earnings and receipt of a $5.0 million business interruption insurance payment. In addition, the recast prior-year period included a $9.2 million after-tax loss on early extinguishment of debt. Adjusted earnings from continuing operations for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 were $58.2 million, or $1.96 per diluted share. In the comparable recast period of the prior year, adjusted earnings from continuing operations were $66.0 million, or $2.20 per diluted share.

For the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016, adjusted earnings exclude $0.21 per diluted share of costs related to previously identified integration, restructuring and compliance activities (see Table 1).

Table 1: Effect of Certain Items on Fiscal 4th Quarter 2016
Earnings from Continuing Operations

         
    $Millions   EPS
Earnings (GAAP)   $ 52.0   $ 1.75
             
Accelerated Integration Costs     3.2     0.11
Compliance Costs     1.8     0.06
DAT Integration Costs     1.2     0.04
             
Adjusted Earnings (non-GAAP)   $ 58.2   $ 1.96
             

Including discontinued operations, net earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 were $52.3 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, compared with $21.0 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, for the comparable recast period in 2015. Net earnings in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 included $0.2 million of earnings from discontinued operations, while the prior year included a $19.3 million loss from discontinued operations.

New orders in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 were $475.4 million, compared with $501.0 million in the comparable recast period of 2015. The company's book-to-bill ratio for the fiscal fourth quarter was 0.9. Backlog at the end of fiscal 2016 was $1.3 billion, compared with $1.2 billion at the end of fiscal 2015.

Gross profit in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 was $193.8 million, compared with $185.8 million in the prior-year recast period. Reported gross margin as a percentage of sales in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 was 35.6%, compared with 34.1% in the prior-year recast period. The company's adjusted gross profit, excluding the discrete items consistent with adjusted earnings, was $196.1 million, or 36.1% of sales, in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016, compared with adjusted gross margin of $189.1 million, or 34.7% of sales, in the recast fourth quarter of 2015.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses during the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 were $102.0 million, or 18.8% of sales, compared with $94.6 million, or 17.4% of sales, in the prior-year recast period. Approximately $8 million in higher year-over-year SG&A expenses in the fiscal 2016 fourth quarter were due to bad debt expense within the Avionics & Controls segment. Excluding this expense, SG&A expenses were 17.3% of sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

Research, development and engineering spending in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 was $23.2 million, or 4.3% of sales, compared with $25.4 million, or 4.6% of sales, in the prior-year period.

The company's income tax rate in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 was 17.6%, compared with 7.9% in the prior-year period. The lower tax rate in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2015 was principally the result of lower earnings and beneficial tax effects from the DAT acquisition.

For the full fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, sales were $1.99 billion, roughly flat with the prior-year period. Fiscal 2016 GAAP earnings from continuing operations were $117.0 million, or $3.93 per diluted share, compared with the prior-year period results of $127.9 million, or $4.10 per diluted share. Excluding the discrete costs described in Table 2 below, adjusted earnings from continuing operations in fiscal 2016 were $144.8 million, or $4.86 per diluted share, compared with the prior-year period results of $179.1 million, or $5.74 per diluted share.

Table 2: Effect of Certain Items on Full-Year Fiscal 2016
Earnings from Continuing Operations

         
    $Millions   EPS
Earnings (GAAP)   $ 117.0   $ 3.93
             
Accelerated Integration Costs     7.4     0.24
Compliance Costs     8.7     0.30
DAT Integration Costs     10.1     0.34
Long-term Contract Adjustments     1.6     0.05
             
Adjusted Earnings (non-GAAP)   $ 144.8   $ 4.86
             

Cash flow from operations for fiscal 2016 was $167.2 million, compared with $193.7 million in the prior-year period. After capital expenditures of $68.5 million, free cash flow for fiscal 2016 was $98.7 million. In the recast 2015 full-year period, free cash flow was $138.3 million. Capital expenditures in fiscal 2016 were higher than the prior year due to approximately $15 million used to purchase and improve the primary facility of the DAT business. Fiscal 2016 EBITDA was $269.0 million, compared with $298.8 million in the recast prior-year period.

Additional information about fiscal 2016 fourth quarter and full-year operational and financial results is available in a presentation on the company's website (www.esterline.com) in the Investor Relations section under "Presentations". The presentation is also included as Exhibit 99.2 to the company's report on Form 8-K, which is being submitted today to the SEC.

Guidance for Fiscal Year 2017

Revenues for the fiscal year ending on September 29, 2017, are expected to be in the range of $2.0 billion to $2.05 billion. Fiscal 2017 GAAP earnings from continuing operations are expected to be in the range of $4.30 to $4.70 per diluted share. Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding certain compliance and integration costs, are expected to be in the range of $4.50 to $4.90 per diluted share. The company's tax rate is expected to increase from 16.0% in fiscal 2016 to 25.0% in fiscal 2017 driven by higher earnings, changes in international tax regulations and timing of discrete tax items. This change in effective tax rate is estimated to have an impact on fiscal 2017 earnings of ($0.55) per diluted share.

The company expects fiscal 2017 free cash flow to be in a range of $165 million to $185 million and EBITDA to be in a range of $295 million to $315 million.

Reusser said, "Our teams will continue to execute within the Esterline Operating System, or E3, and capitalize on positive trends in the marketplace in fiscal 2017. While our business environment has a level of uncertainty in the coming year and our 2017 EPS will be impacted negatively by the increase in our tax rate, I'm pleased that our outlook for EBITDA and free cash flow in fiscal 2017 shows strong improvements over 2016."

Conference Call Information

Esterline will host a conference call to discuss this announcement today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time). The U.S. dial-in number is 877-307-0078; outside the U.S., use 531-289-2890. The pass code for the call is: 98000160.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release and the related presentation providing supplemental financial information include non-GAAP financial measures -- adjusted earnings from continuing operations, adjusted earnings from continuing operations per diluted share, adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), operating earnings from continuing operations adjusted to exclude depreciation and amortization expense (EBITDA), adjusted gross margin, also referred to as gross profit, adjusted SG&A expense, and free cash flow -- that have not been calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (GAAP). Adjusted earnings from continuing operations consist of earnings from continuing operations attributable to Esterline less the costs associated with certain integration activities -- including restructuring charges -- and incremental compliance costs, discrete items associated with our acquisition of the DAT business in January 2015, as well as the other items further detailed in the tables below. Adjusted earnings from continuing operations per diluted share divides each element of adjusted earnings from continuing operations by the weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted for the periods presented. EBIT is defined as operating earnings from continuing operations. Adjusted EBIT excludes the same costs excluded from adjusted earnings from continuing operations set forth in the tables below. EBITDA is EBIT plus depreciation and amortization of $98.9 million in fiscal 2016 and $99.6 million in fiscal 2015. Fiscal fourth quarter 2016 adjusted gross margin excludes the cost of certain integration activities, which increased GAAP gross margin by $2.3 million. Adjusted gross margin in the recast fourth quarter of 2015 excludes certain integration costs and purchase accounting charges totaling $3.2 million. In accordance with the SEC's requirements, below is the reconciliation of the non-GAAP adjusted earnings from continuing operations to the comparable GAAP earnings from continuing operations and additional relevant reconciliations are included in the presentation providing supplemental financial information.

                     
In millions, except per share amounts                    
    Three   Recast Three  
    Months Ended   Months Ended  
    September 30, 2016   October 2, 2015  
        Diluted         Diluted  
        EPS         EPS  
                             
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline (GAAP), Net of Tax   $ 52.0   $ 1.75   $ 40.3     $ 1.34  
  Accelerated Integration Costs, Net of Tax of $0.7 and $0.1     3.2     0.11     2.7       0.09  
  Compliance Costs, Net of Tax of $0.5 and $0.9     1.8     0.06     6.7       0.23  
  DAT Integration and Purchase Acctg Adjustments, Net of Tax of $0.4 and $1.1     1.2     0.04     7.1       0.23  
  Bond Redemption Costs, Net of Tax of $1.9     -     -     9.2       0.31  
Adjusted Earnings from Continuing Operations (non-GAAP), Net of Tax   $ 58.2   $ 1.96   $ 66.0     $ 2.20  
                             
                             
In millions, except per share amounts                            
    Twelve   Recast Twelve  
    Months Ended   Months Ended  
    September 30, 2016   October 2, 2015  
        Diluted         Diluted  
        EPS         EPS  
                             
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline (GAAP), Net of Tax   $ 117.0   $ 3.93   $ 127.9     $ 4.10  
  Accelerated Integration Costs, Net of Tax of $1.3 and $2.6     7.4     0.24     12.0       0.38  
  Compliance Costs, Net of Tax of $1.7 and $3.3     8.7     0.30     15.7       0.50  
  DAT Integration and Purchase Acctg Adjustments, Net of Tax of $1.9 and $2.8     10.1     0.34     13.3       0.43  
  Long-term Contract Adjustments, Net of Tax of $0.3 and $2.2     1.6     0.05     7.7       0.24  
  DAT Closing Expenses, Net of Tax of $1.3     -     -     4.7       0.15  
  Pension Expense, Net of Tax of $0.7     -     -     2.3       0.07  
  Bond Redemption Costs, Net of Tax of $1.9     -     -     9.2       0.30  
  Non-Income Tax Gain, Net of Tax of $4.4     -     -     (13.7 )     (0.43 )
Adjusted Earnings from Continuing Operations (non-GAAP), Net of Tax   $ 144.8   $ 4.86   $ 179.1     $ 5.74  
                             

The company provides these non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental information to the GAAP financial measures. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to (a) evaluate the company's historical and prospective financial performance and its performance relative to its competitors, (b) allocate resources, and (c) measure the operational performance of the company's business units.

In addition, management believes including these non-GAAP financial measures enhances investors' and financial analysts' understanding of the company's performance as well as their ability to assess and compare the company's historical results of operations.

These non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the comparable GAAP measures, and free cash flow is not necessarily indicative of amounts available for discretionary use. There are limitations to these non-GAAP financial measures because they are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies due to potential differences in methods of calculation and items that comprise the calculation. The company compensates for these limitations by using these non-GAAP financial measures as a supplement to the GAAP measures and by providing reconciliations of the non-GAAP and comparable GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures should be read only in conjunction with the company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events or the company's future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "should" or "will," or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based on the current intent and expectations of the management of Esterline, are not guarantees of future performance or actions, and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and may cause Esterline's or its industry's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Esterline's actual results and the timing and outcome of events may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements due to risks detailed in Esterline's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its most recent Transition Report on Form 10-K.

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Consolidated Statement of Operations (unaudited)
In thousands, except per share amounts

                         
    Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
    Sept 30,     Oct 2,     Sept 30,     Oct 2,  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
          (Recast)           (Recast)  
Segment Sales                                
  Avionics & Controls   $ 253,001     $ 232,019     $ 860,494     $ 826,044  
  Sensors & Systems     181,196       184,989       696,032       714,965  
  Advanced Materials     109,555       128,241       436,105       461,784  
                                 
Net Sales     543,752       545,249       1,992,631       2,002,793  
                                 
Cost of Sales     349,983       359,409       1,331,386       1,323,405  
      193,769       185,840       661,245       679,388  
Expenses                                
  Selling, general and administrative     101,991       94,607       395,274       384,156  
  Research, development and                                
  engineering     23,179       25,351       95,939       100,426  
  Restructuring charges     2,443       2,081       4,873       8,143  
  Insurance recovery     (5,000 )     -       (5,000 )     -  
  Other expense (income)     -       241       -       (12,503 )
    Total Expenses     122,613       122,280       491,086       480,222  
                                 
Operating Earnings from Continuing                                
  Operations     71,156       63,560       170,159       199,166  
                                 
  Interest Income     (156 )     (226 )     (367 )     (632 )
  Interest Expense     7,922       8,705       30,091       33,114  
  Loss on extinguishment of debt     -       11,122       -       11,451  
                                 
Earnings from Continuing Operations                                
  Before Income Taxes     63,390       43,959       140,435       155,233  
Income Tax Expense     11,177       3,481       22,535       26,911  
Earnings from Continuing Operations                                
  Including Noncontrolling Interests     52,213       40,478       117,900       128,322  
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling                                
  Interests     (168 )     (211 )     (949 )     (427 )
Earnings from Continuing Operations                                
  Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax     52,045       40,267       116,951       127,895  
Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations,                                
  Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax     227       (19,285 )     (15,266 )     (40,319 )
                                 
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline   $ 52,272     $ 20,982     $ 101,685     $ 87,576  
                                 
Earnings (Loss) Per Share--Basic:                                
  Continuing Operations   $ 1.77     $ 1.36     $ 3.97     $ 4.16  
  Discontinued Operations     .01       (.65 )     (.52 )     (1.31 )
                                 
Earnings (Loss) Per Share--Basic   $ 1.78     $ .71     $ 3.45     $ 2.85  
                                 
Earnings (Loss) Per Share--Diluted:                                
Continuing Operations   $ 1.75     $ 1.34     $ 3.93     $ 4.10  
Discontinued Operations     .01       (.64 )     (.51 )     (1.29 )
                                 
Earnings (Loss) Per Share--Diluted   $ 1.76     $ .70     $ 3.42     $ 2.81  
                                 
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding--Basic     29,410       29,543       29,490       30,729  
                                 
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding--Diluted     29,691       29,901       29,764       31,215  
                                 
                                 
                                 

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Consolidated Sales and Earnings From Continuing Operations by Segment (unaudited)
In thousands

             
    Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
    Sept 30,     Oct 2,     Sept 30,     Oct 2,  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
          (Recast)           (Recast)  
Segment Sales                                
  Avionics & Controls   $ 253,001     $ 232,019     $ 860,494     $ 826,044  
  Sensors & Systems     181,196       184,989       696,032       714,965  
  Advanced Materials     109,555       128,241       436,105       461,784  
                                 
Net Sales   $ 543,752     $ 545,249     $ 1,992,631     $ 2,002,793  
                                 
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes                                
  Avionics & Controls   $ 37,777     $ 31,129     $ 78,356     $ 93,225  
  Sensors & Systems     26,098       27,553       87,768       84,235  
  Advanced Materials     22,805       25,796       74,515       91,334  
    Segment Earnings     86,680       84,478       240,639       268,794  
                                 
  Corporate expense     (15,524 )     (20,677 )     (70,480 )     (82,131 )
  Other income (expense)     -       (241 )     -       12,503  
  Interest income     156       226       367       632  
  Interest expense     (7,922 )     (8,705 )     (30,091 )     (33,114 )
  Loss on extinguishment of debt     -       (11,122 )     -       (11,451 )
                                 
Earnings from Continuing Operations                                
  Before Income Taxes   $ 63,390     $ 43,959     $ 140,435     $ 155,233  
                                   
                                   
                                   

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited)
In thousands

         
    September 30,   October 2,
    2016   2015
Assets            
Current Assets            
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 258,520   $ 191,355
  Escrow cash     1,125     -
  Accounts receivable, net     422,073     380,748
  Inventories     450,206     446,768
  Income tax refundable     5,183     12,575
               
  Deferred income tax benefits     -     41,082
  Prepaid expenses     17,909     23,008
  Other current assets     5,322     5,427
  Current assets of businesses held for sale     15,450     27,851
    Total Current Assets     1,175,788     1,128,814
             
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net     338,034     309,399
             
Other Non-Current Assets            
  Goodwill     1,024,667     1,041,991
  Intangibles, net     393,035     452,040
  Deferred income tax benefits     75,409     28,979
  Other assets     13,698     14,348
  Non-current assets of businesses held for sale     11,400     24,917
    $ 3,032,031   $ 3,000,488
             
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity            
Current Liabilities            
  Accounts payable   $ 121,816   $ 117,976
  Accrued liabilities     238,163     259,734
  Current maturities of long-term debt     16,774     13,376
  Federal and foreign income taxes     10,932     2,404
  Current liabilities of businesses held for sale     10,813     17,106
    Total Current Liabilities     398,498     410,596
             
Long-Term Liabilities            
  Credit facilities     155,000     160,000
  Long-term debt, net of current maturities     698,796     701,457
  Deferred income tax liabilities     53,798     73,849
  Pension and post-retirement obligations     92,520     75,019
  Other liabilities     21,968     29,367
  Non-current liabilities of businesses held for sale     320     2,409
             
Total Shareholders' Equity     1,611,131     1,547,791
    $ 3,032,031   $ 3,000,488